Page 12 - The Old Ratcliffian 2013
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The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | News from the College
A Cultural Tour of China for the Sixth Form
20th-28th October 2012
At the start of the half-term holiday,
eighteen students, along with Mr
Cantrill, Mr Lambert and Mrs Grant,
headed off to China for a cultural
tour. After arriving in Beijing on a
wet Sunday morning, the group
was met by two very keen tour
guides, Tom and Lotus. Despite
being exhausted from the nine-hour
flight, we went straight to the Beijing
Olympic Stadium. Unfortunately,
we were unable to rest on the bus
journey as Lotus, our ‘local guide’,
believed that we were there to learn
as much Chinese as possible and
that it wasn’t a holiday! Her language
lessons were helpful in allowing us to
master the basics and are definitely
what we will remember her for! An
early start the next day saw a visit to
China’s best-known tourist attraction,
the Great Wall. A steep climb up
numerous uneven steps rewarded
us with spectacular views. Here we
discovered that, not only was the
wall famous, but it appeared to the
Chinese that we were too, with many
wanting pictures of us! Recovering At the Great Wall
from our paparazzi experience, we
moved on to the Sacred Road, an
important spiritual location from the Emperor Cities, as well as a smaller Thanks must go to Mr Cantrill, Mr
Ming Dynasty that marked the route to boat trip down the Lesser Three Lambert and Mrs Grant for taking us
the Imperial Tombs. Later in the day, Gorges, a truly beautiful area. on such an unforgettable trip.
we visited Tiananmen Square and had The final section of our tour took us Shona Traynor (13) & Anna Thorley
the opportunity to see the well-known to Shanghai. It is safe to say that (13)
portrait of Chairman Mao.
Shanghai was by far everyone’s
The second stage of our trip took us favourite city, as it was completely
from Beijing on the overnight train to different to any of the others we had
Xi’an. This was a new experience for previously visited, and it felt more
all, where four people shared a cabin like home. The Oriental Pearl TV
the size of the ones on the Hogwarts Tower was a real experience for all,
Express! After a rough night’s sleep, being able to see the whole of the city
we ended up in Xi’an ready for through a glass-floored dome which
another busy day ahead, visiting you could walk around. After this, we
the Terracotta Army. The sheer size visited a traditional tea house where
was breathtaking; there were life- we got to try several different teas,
sized soldiers as far as the eye could many of which were an acquired
see, each with their own individual taste! A trip to Shanghai’s own China
characteristics. It was definitely a Town saw some well-deserved retail
highlight of the tour. At the end of therapy! Purchases varied from the
a tiring third day, we arrived at the oriental, such as silk scarves and
cruise ship in Chongqing, where we chopsticks, to a very British purchase,
were to stay for the next three nights, England football jackets! To finish
travelling along the River Yangtze. the day, we got to see Shanghai at
During the cruise, we admired the night on a river cruise. This was truly
incredible scenery and were able spectacular! Then we went to the
to go on a variety of excursions to world famous Shanghai Acrobat Show,
the famous sights along the river. which was incredible.
These included the Ghost and White In Tiananmen Square
12
12
The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | News from the College
A Cultural Tour of China for the Sixth Form
20th-28th October 2012
At the start of the half-term holiday,
eighteen students, along with Mr
Cantrill, Mr Lambert and Mrs Grant,
headed off to China for a cultural
tour. After arriving in Beijing on a
wet Sunday morning, the group
was met by two very keen tour
guides, Tom and Lotus. Despite
being exhausted from the nine-hour
flight, we went straight to the Beijing
Olympic Stadium. Unfortunately,
we were unable to rest on the bus
journey as Lotus, our ‘local guide’,
believed that we were there to learn
as much Chinese as possible and
that it wasn’t a holiday! Her language
lessons were helpful in allowing us to
master the basics and are definitely
what we will remember her for! An
early start the next day saw a visit to
China’s best-known tourist attraction,
the Great Wall. A steep climb up
numerous uneven steps rewarded
us with spectacular views. Here we
discovered that, not only was the
wall famous, but it appeared to the
Chinese that we were too, with many
wanting pictures of us! Recovering At the Great Wall
from our paparazzi experience, we
moved on to the Sacred Road, an
important spiritual location from the Emperor Cities, as well as a smaller Thanks must go to Mr Cantrill, Mr
Ming Dynasty that marked the route to boat trip down the Lesser Three Lambert and Mrs Grant for taking us
the Imperial Tombs. Later in the day, Gorges, a truly beautiful area. on such an unforgettable trip.
we visited Tiananmen Square and had The final section of our tour took us Shona Traynor (13) & Anna Thorley
the opportunity to see the well-known to Shanghai. It is safe to say that (13)
portrait of Chairman Mao.
Shanghai was by far everyone’s
The second stage of our trip took us favourite city, as it was completely
from Beijing on the overnight train to different to any of the others we had
Xi’an. This was a new experience for previously visited, and it felt more
all, where four people shared a cabin like home. The Oriental Pearl TV
the size of the ones on the Hogwarts Tower was a real experience for all,
Express! After a rough night’s sleep, being able to see the whole of the city
we ended up in Xi’an ready for through a glass-floored dome which
another busy day ahead, visiting you could walk around. After this, we
the Terracotta Army. The sheer size visited a traditional tea house where
was breathtaking; there were life- we got to try several different teas,
sized soldiers as far as the eye could many of which were an acquired
see, each with their own individual taste! A trip to Shanghai’s own China
characteristics. It was definitely a Town saw some well-deserved retail
highlight of the tour. At the end of therapy! Purchases varied from the
a tiring third day, we arrived at the oriental, such as silk scarves and
cruise ship in Chongqing, where we chopsticks, to a very British purchase,
were to stay for the next three nights, England football jackets! To finish
travelling along the River Yangtze. the day, we got to see Shanghai at
During the cruise, we admired the night on a river cruise. This was truly
incredible scenery and were able spectacular! Then we went to the
to go on a variety of excursions to world famous Shanghai Acrobat Show,
the famous sights along the river. which was incredible.
These included the Ghost and White In Tiananmen Square
12
12
